This article ... takes an objective and up-to-date look at the current state of Vista, with a range of facts, clear examples and informed opinions aimed squarely at debunking a lot of the myths and FUD we've been gagging on for the past year. So for those of you still considering whether to make the switch from XP, for those of you who want to abandon Vista and go back to XP, for those of you who used Vista a while ago and who are wondering whether it's worth using again now - this article puts things in perspective with the latest facts.

What this article doesn't do: it doesn't try to make you believe that Vista is the greatest (or worst) thing since sliced bread. It doesn't try to force you to think a certain way by taking liberties with the truth just to prove a point. It doesn't try to highlight how witty and incisively sarcastic I can be. And most certainly this article doesn't try to dazzle you with technical jargon.

Frankly, some of these are real annoyances, while others are just FUD/misunderstandings/lies, perhaps spread by annoying people. But fair enough: When it comes to Vista, you almost have to address the imagined problems along with the real ones.

He also goes on to discuss reasons you should like Vista. I feel that I covered that stuff enough.

I am, however, interested in discussing Vista problems. You know, real problems that really occur and to real people, really. Stuff I see that I'd like to have fixed. I know others have tried to address these issues in various ways. But maybe it's time for something a little more intelligent than a "what Microsoft needs to fix in Windows 7 list." You know, something along the lines of "what Microsoft should fix by Vista SP2." Real world stuff.

So what am I talking about?

How about the weird folder/file deletion bugs where you somehow can't get the proper privileges to delete something even though you've navigated through all the required UAC prompts?

Why do Windows Sidebar gadgets move across the screen, right to left, over time, when not attached the Sidebar (i.e. floating on the desktop)?

Why is networking so obtuse in Windows Vista? The Location dialog (home, work, public) is wonderful. Network and Sharing is a disaster.

Why can't Windows burn and create ISO files?

Why can't I have different backgrounds (or background colors) on different monitors? Or span a widescreen image across multiple monitors?

Why doesn't the Explorer Favorites list order itself consistently between different window types (like File Open and Computer)? Why doesn't IE remember the size of its File Open dialog when I resize it?

Why doesn't Windows Vista just remember per-folder settings every single time and without question?

Discuss this Article 83

Incredible article!
I'm printing the whole thing out so I can properly digest every paragraph again and again.
And I just love how he nails the so-called Tech "Journalists". Almost had me pounding the desk in agreement.

His "Tweaking Companion for Windows Vista" helped me understand Vista to the point where it was no longer "that stupid OS that's different from XP" but rather the new and improved Windows that actually does things smarter and better once you bother to learn how it works.

Paul,
"Why does Windows Vista feel the need to tell me (via balloon window) when it has successfully done something (like install a driver)? Isn't "just working" the baseline? Bug me when something goes wrong, and leave me alone otherwise. Just work."
You yourself have stated on previous occasions that it's foolish to do everything in the background and never have windows stand up and take credit. If windows is taking steps to solve problems for you but never tells you about it, when Apple or a Linux distro advertise that it will do that, the consumer might be tempted to run right over since what has Windows ever done for them. Btw in my experience Ubuntu does tell you if it's installing something on your behalf upon plugging something in... and there is no reason why it shouldn't it's always gratifying to know I won't have to go searching through a bunch of forums for a bunch of sudo commands just to get thing working. Balloons away I say...
If software never stands up to take credit for the good work it's doing for you it will never get credit for it. People will just focus on what it isn't doing for them (and they need no help for that) and if the software isn't balancing that perception by actively pointing out what it IS doing for you it will lose.
Yes there is a delicate balance between bombarding the user with annoying and possibly useless notices ("The program you have opened would not run on a Mac... We just thought you should know.") and leaving the user in the dark about the good work it's doing for you behind the scenes. I do agree there should be options to turn that stuff off.
I personally am far more annoyed by disk thrashing after Windows Defender Def updates, than the pleasant updates have been installed notice.

I would like to point out something for the benefit of those who will inevitably comment on all these "annoyances" without actually reading the article...
SPOILER ALERT
Many of the annoyances he tackles are "fixed" by explaining to his readers that they've been lied to and that the "annoyance" doesn't actually exist outside of badly written articles by ill informed tech writers.

Ocean,
Nonsense. I only attack ignorance, deception and manipulation, none of which describe Paul Thurrott.
If he wants to discuss Vista issues with me, he's got my email address as well as several other ways of talking with me rather than use this comment board.

"Nonsense. I only attack ignorance, deception and manipulation"
And then there's the senseless bashing of whatever you don't like for whatever reason, which is somehow different from what the Mac fanatics do when they bash Microsoft.

Great article.
"How about the weird folder/file deletion bugs where you somehow can't get the proper privileges to delete something even though you've navigated through all the required UAC prompts?"
I've had that problem with network folders.
"Why does Windows Vista feel the need to tell me (via balloon window) when it has successfully done something (like install a driver)? Isn't "just working" the baseline? Bug me when something goes wrong, and leave me alone otherwise. Just work."
I don't know about this. How do I know if a device is usable or not until my computer lets me know? I actually think that prompt is useful. On the other hand, I hate the MCE Guide downloading error prompts. They simply keep piling up.

First off great article. However its a great article for a Techie.
Example the first problem listed "Constantly Changing Folder Views" I have seen this and it has irked me like crazy. The fix is cool and it works, which is great. That said I cant see my parents using this fix EVER. That is where Vista falls short. It workes in XP but not in Vista and the fix for joe user is a complex registry hack.
Also my most annoying problem file copy speed was not even listed? Although it has been mostly fixed with SP1 its still slower than XP or OS X.
The article is really spit into three sections, Real Problems that have a quirkly fix, Real Problems that have no fix right now "Photo Gallery Freezing", and un-educated users, (Memory usage, disk activity, DRM..etc).

Good article with good information. Like bettieblu said I am sure that many of the fixes cannot be easy for the average user. I know that many of us that support various levels of "computers" in the corporate environment, are also the "computer guy or girl" for friends and family and will be able to assist with many of these types of things. Of course, the FUD may or may not be able to be dispelled easily...but as long as we and are open minded and listen to the real needs of our "customers" then we should be able to make appropriate suggestions...and sometimes that means suggesting a Mac.
--tayme

@Paul: I agree that Windows should give you options to have different wallpapers/span wallpaper between multiple monitors. And I know that you're looking for something that doesn't require add-ons (such as the excellent ISO burner "powertoy") or user manipulation. However, just FYI in case you don't know, I've found I can get any wallpaper effect I want using Paint and setting the wallpaper to "tiled".
If you want a different wallpaper on two side-by-side monitors, launch Paint, set your canvas to the total size of your desktop (i.e. 2x 1024x768 monitors would net a 2048x768 canvas), paste in the desired wallpapers side by side, save it, then set that picture as your "Tiled" wallpaper. Viola! It's only a little trickier if your monitors are offset: see http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk44/james3mg/OffsetWallpaper.jpg for my wallpaper I use on a system whose primary monitor is 1280x1024, and whose secondary monitor is 1024x768, with a top edge set 68 pixels higher than the primary.
NO, I'm not saying this is ideal behavior for Windows, nor am I defending it, I'm just letting you know how to do it, if you really want to. Just information for your use. =)

"Why can't I have different backgrounds (or background colors) on different monitors? Or span a widescreen image across multiple monitors?"
Is this really true? Can anyone offer an opinion as to why this is so? Can XP do this? Really not trying to do the usual Mac/PC thing, but Macs have done this since the mid 8o's and I don't see what the issue can be.
OTOH, my biggest complaint along these lines is that on OS X you can't duplicate the menu bar on multiple monitors. In this case, Windows has the menubar(s) in the individual Windows, but the cure is worse than the disease.

" And most certainly this article doesn't try to dazzle you with technical jargon."
I call BS on that.
After a long-winded three page introduction of the history of Vista that would make Paul proud for its verbosity, the writer finally gets to the first two "fixes"...
which involve editing the registry!
Yeah. Grandma's going to do that.
---- begin quoted text ----
Solution
Open the Registry Editor - see the Windows Registry chapter of the TGTC if you don't know how to access, edit or navigate the Registry. Go to the following keys:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
Right-click on the Bags key in the left pane and select Delete, then do the same thing for BagMRU. This will remove most existing customizations for things like window sizes, positions and views. While still in the same place in the Registry Editor, you will need to manually recreate one of these keys with a new setting. Right-click on the following key in the left pane:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
Create a new key called Bags to replace the one you just deleted. Right-click on Bags, select New>Key and name this new key AllFolders. Right-click on AllFolders, select New>Key and name this new key Shell. The end result should look like this:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\ Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
----- end quoted text -----
...and that's just half of it.
I'd say that, for the average reader (you know, the one this article is allegedly geared towards), that IS overwhelming technical jargon.
Or you can just tell Grandma, "Hey, Grams: If you don't understand this, just see the Windows Registry chapter of the TGTC!"
You gotta wonder what world these people live in.

Here is what the writer says:
>>While some people, such as the average forum poster, spread FUD purely through a lack of knowledge and without any malicious intent, a significant number of people do it deliberately and professionally. Many bloggers and tech writers receive a notable portion of their income based on the advertising revenue generated from the traffic to their sites. Indeed one of the constant dilemmas facing these people is the pressure to write interesting new material in order to maintain their existing readership and attract new readers. The New York Times recently reported on the emerging phenomenon of 'blog stress', pointing out in particular that:
One of the most competitive categories is blogs about technology developments and news. They are in a vicious 24-hour competition to break company news, reveal new products and expose corporate gaffes... To the victor go the ego points, and, potentially, the advertising. Bloggers for such sites are often paid for each post, though some are paid based on how many people read their material. They build that audience through scoops or volume or both.
Little wonder then that even before the beta process for Windows Vista began, then subsequently through to its official retail release, and ever since then, there have been, are, and will be, countless articles jockeying to provide all sorts of sensationalist and downright inaccurate takes on every facet of Vista. When Vista is milked dry, they'll move on to Windows 7 and repeat the entire process, as is already starting to happen.<<
Why hasn't this happened to Mac OS? To Desktop Linux? To the Wii?
It's a field too far to assume that MS can't out-market (and thats what his claim is) bloggers and tech-journalists.

@ lotsamystuff
He cant help it if he writes for people above a 7th grade level. Some of us can actually appreciate a person that takes time to write a through piece.
@Ocean
Just stop. we know you, and I'm sure some others are ready to take this thread into another 157 comment BS-a-thon. So if you are just looking for a flame or attack to get people going then I will call on everyone to just ignore further postings from you.

Master...got a answer for my August 25, 2008 12:12 PM post?
I have another question: How many non-technically oriented users will take this step he suggests? I agree its a necessity, but even for the users in the Mojave experiment...how many of them would have looked for a service pack upgrade as the solution to their problems?
>>Preferably you should start with a reformat and fresh installation of Windows Vista and SP1. A 'clean install' in this manner ensures that any factors such as data corruption, old driver debris, Registry clutter and the effects of previously incompatible programs or drivers are all wiped clean. See the first few chapters of the TweakGuides Tweaking Companion, starting with the Backup and Recovery chapter, for more information if you want to do a decent job of clean installing Vista the right way, along with the sorts of things you should consider both prior to and immediately after installation.
The bottom line is that while SP1 was not the cure-all it was predicted to be, it is a significant step in Vista's progress, and all systems would do well to start off with a clean slate of Vista + SP1 and all Windows Updates before doing any other form of troubleshooting or annoyance solving. This step alone might make a very noticeable difference.<<

@master: "He cant [sic] help it if he writes for people above a 7th grade level. Some of us can actually appreciate a person that takes time to write a through [sic] piece.
Sorry for the [sic] bombs, but come on...it was too easy. ;-)
Look, I have no problem with anyone writing a technical piece, and the information is certainly good. But then don't claim that it's NOT a technical article when it is.

More:
>>I firmly believe that the only real way to solve computer problems is to gain sufficient knowledge to understand how your PC and Vista are working, rather than constantly looking for someone else to provide you with a quick fix to solve those "mysterious problems" you keep having.<<
In a perfect world, yes. But the majority see their computer as they see their car. They hit a switch, and it just runs...and with a minimum of auto knowledge on their part.

The solution to 'Nagging UAC Prompts' is to disable the service or hack the registry, In fact, the first two solutions involve hacking the registry!
This solutions guide isn't aimed at the soccer mom, John or Jane Doe user. It's aimed at the technical users of a forum like this one.
Thus for a significant part of Vistas aimed audience, I'd bet that the criticisms and the annoyances would remain even *after* a thorough reading of this article.

>>despite years of warning and plenty of support provided by Microsoft prior to Vista's release, some hardware manufacturers dragged their feet on developing appropriate Vista drivers, and the end result was that upon launch Vista's overall performance and stability was not what it should have been.
--
Regardless, Nvidia, ATI/AMD, Creative and a whole range of other manufacturers have struggled to release full-featured, stable and fast drivers for their products under Windows Vista. None of this was due to any fault on Vista's part - it had introduced a range of improvements designed to benefit the end user and improve stability, security, performance and functionality. The hardware manufacturers were simply not fully on board due to the additional cost and effort involved.<<
This is a chicken or egg first question. Why release the OS if you know that the drivers out there are going to destabilize the system? Why not use your leverage with your partners to get good drivers out there, and in turn showcase them. That would get them off the fence fast.
Ultimately, even if it's true that the third parties caused the problem, it was MS' customers that suffered (which is why Vistas rep has suffered). They should have been more creative, IMHO.

>>The reality is that the only solution to most problems is knowledge. Blaming Vista for all your problems is like kicking a flat tyre - a tyre usually doesn't get flat by itself, typically something else caused the flat, and some basic knowledge, user caution and regular maintenance might have prevented it. And at the very least, some knowledge on the correct procedure to replace a flat tyre is needed unless you want to find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere.<<
Yes, because hacking the registry is no more different than swerving to avoid a nail or broken glass.

>>Bottom Line: Windows Vista is a highly polished and enhanced version of Windows XP. It's not a 'must have', but it is a 'very nice, thanks' kind of OS.
--
Still, if you're looking for 'Wow' in Vista, you will have to look deeper than the icing on the cake, and for many people, that involves too much effort and too much thought...
<<
Well written article, but his conclusion can definitely be criticized. That top quote is something, eh?

Mum:
' "Nonsense. I only attack ignorance, deception and manipulation"
And then there's the senseless bashing of whatever you don't like for whatever reason, which is somehow different from what the Mac fanatics do when they bash Microsoft.'
Okay; you do realize that MG specifically indicated what he doesn't like and for what reason in the very sentence you quoted?!
lotsamystuff:
‘ "And most certainly this article doesn't try to dazzle you with technical jargon."
I call BS on that.
After a long-winded three page introduction of the history of Vista that would make Paul proud for its verbosity, the writer finally gets to the first two "fixes"...
which involve editing the registry!
Yeah. Grandma's going to do that. ‘
Ughm…You do understand the difference between dazzling with jargon and using the appropriate language to describe the procedure. What would you have him say, “and now we’re going to edit the thingy that stores the thingy, by changing a thingy to say a different thingy”?
And then, of course, there’s Ocean, who is in a class all by him/herself.
‘Why hasn't this happened to Mac OS? To Desktop Linux? To the Wii?’
Because Mac OS’s penetration is in the single digits; the Linux’ is even less, and Wii is a different subject altogether.
‘ The solution to 'Nagging UAC Prompts' is to disable the service or hack the registry, In fact, the first two solutions involve hacking the registry! ‘
You’re having difficulties comprehending written English, I see. Here’s the low-down – the solution to the Nagging UAC Prompts is actually “do nothing, they’re there for a reason.” The rest is for “tech-heads” who think they know better and then they can sure understand what is written.
‘This solutions guide isn't aimed at the soccer mom, John or Jane Doe user. It's aimed at the technical users of a forum like this one. ‘
It was never suggested otherwise.
‘ This is a chicken or egg first question. Why release the OS if you know that the drivers out there are going to destabilize the system? Why not use your leverage with your partners to get good drivers out there, and in turn showcase them. That would get them off the fence fast. ’
No it really isn’t, you could run a system without those components and wouldn’t need the drivers. The driver support responsibility rests squarely on the OEM, which is a part of the bigger expandable system model that the “IBM compatible PC” world lives in, as opposed to the closed system that the Mac world lives in, where the person supplying the equipment and the OS is one and the same and therefore responsible for driver support.
‘Ultimately, even if it's true that the third parties caused the problem, it was MS' customers that suffered (which is why Vistas rep has suffered). They should have been more creative, IMHO. ‘
What the heck are you talking about? Creative like how?
‘Yes, because hacking the registry is no more different than swerving to avoid a nail or broken glass. ‘
I think the author was clear that the issues that he highlighted as requiring registry edits are genuine problems and the solutions provided are workarounds, as opposed to made up FUD like “Vista is a memory hog” on the basis of the perceived memory usage of SuperFetch (which I have personally had a lot of quite heated discussions about with misinformed people – not your average users, either, supposedly quite knowledgeable people).
Or the widely publicized DRM nonsense that everybody and their grandmother parades as the slogan of their anti-Vista campaign – still, even after Gutman has been exposed as an idiot.
Anyway.

>>Because Mac OS’s penetration is in the single digits; the Linux’ is even less, and Wii is a different subject altogether.<<
The contention is that the bloggers and tech journalists support themselves by making breathtakingly sensationalistic claims that are dubious or even wrong to get page views and sell advertising. Given the rabidness of Apple and Linux fans, such treatment would work even better with them than anyone else...
Heres the claim again:
>>The greatest proponents of FUD on the Internet are the bloggers and so-called Tech "Journalists" who write reams of text on every significant and insignificant development in the world of IT on a daily basis. But why do they insist on generating so much FUD you may ask - what do they have to gain? The answer is simple: the most precious commodity on the Internet is traffic. Traffic generates fame and fortune. Nothing draws more traffic than articles sensationalising issues that affect the average reader. And what could have more impact on the average tech reader than the most used Operating System around the world: Microsoft's Windows.<<
He's wrong of course. Ask Paul what he draws more traffic on...an article criticizing Apple...or an article criticizing MS Windows.
Ask him.

>>‘This solutions guide isn't aimed at the soccer mom, John or Jane Doe user. It's aimed at the technical users of a forum like this one. ‘
It was never suggested otherwise.<<
Sure it was. Paul said at the top:
>>I am, however, interested in discussing Vista problems. You know, real problems that really occur and to real people, really. <<

">>‘This solutions guide isn't aimed at the soccer mom, John or Jane Doe user. It's aimed at the technical users of a forum like this one. ‘
It was never suggested otherwise.<<
Sure it was. Paul said at the top:
>>I am, however, interested in discussing Vista problems. You know, real problems that really occur and to real people, really. <<"
Paul talks about "real problems that really occur and to real people." Now that doesn't imply that the solution is something that an average Joe or Jane can implement. I've had to go to the car mechanic for a lot of real problems that I've had with my car. When Paul talks about "real problems", he means real problems, not FUD. Understand? You might want to try reading it again - a little slower this time.

Let me congratulate Koroush Ghazi for writing one of the aboslute BEST articles on Windows Vista thats loaded with facts and experience. Not the usual hyperbolie and pulp fiction that accompanies the usual PC Magazine, PC World, Randall Stross, and other articles as of late. Clearly Mr. Ghazi has been to this site and others, because in one massive article, he's debunked the arguments of lotsa, johnpapola, daveinla, ocean, lindy, cesjr, and every other antiVista critic on this forum. Wow, talk about a verbal smackdown of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson proportions.
I learned more out of reading this article and the TGTC than all the worthless F.U.D. on this forum. In an eloquent way, he managed to make all of points based upon logic, reason, past history, and user experience. Now reading the previous arguments of our resident F.U.D. artists, I'm laughing my ass off at the narcissism, ignorance, and sheer hubris. Now if we can add another D to make F.U.D.D. for Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt, and Disrespect. This is the same argument Al Gore makes in his political book, "The Assault on Reason" and Barack Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope." Intelligence, logic, and reason always beats ignorance and the consistent Argumentum ad Hominem attacks we've suffered in here since this blog began.
To you guys whose arguments have been thoroughly debunked, I suggest this. GO READ THIS ARTICLE! Read it from beginning to end. Especially the FUD Factory one. Infact, read it a few times and let it wrap around your brain a few times. Throw out the useless and worthless FUD arguments of the past. Infact, I'll borrow a suggestion from Paul. Instead of constantly telling us what sucks, give us substantive arguments that could fit in the form of a Microsoft KB article on actual problems with Vista. Not being a parrot of the hardcore Mac fans, not the ignorance and personal attacks of the radical GOP, bring something useful and sincere discourse to this forum. We'd probably get more attention from Apple and Microsoft, than the crap that goes on here day in and out.
Well since I'm about to be attacked, I'll let this one stew for awhile, while the resident troublemakers eat some crow again and react.
Peace.

I still takes my five attempts to logon to my VPN with Vista Ultimate, but at least it works. I think Vista is very purdy lookin'. Also, if it needs more resources, than buy some more RAM for gosh sakes, and stop buying those POS $299 computers. What do expect, the ability to run the Enterprise for $300? Jeez!
On e other thing, I know LOADS of kids that love Office 2007. An easy UI that even a 7 year old can learn quickly. trust me, they all seem to end up at my house.

subzero
Absolutely right on all counts. I've sent the link to Koroush Ghazi's site out to a bunch of my contacts, both for this article and for his tuning guides (for the more sophisticated people on my list)

@subzero - Your political comments aside, you are right on the money. I am reading the entire article again and each time, I learn a little more about how much FUD has been spread on this site and others. Should MS take a look at this article and write patches and utilities for many of the things that are mentioned? Of course they should...but until then, I am keeping that article saved on the CD that I take with me when ever I work on somebody's Vista machine.
I especially like your comment regarding The Rock...this article is most definitely a smackdown on the candy a$$es of the FUD Mongers.
Live long and prosper...
--tayme

I would like to add two addtional complaints to Paul's list which I agree with 100%.
1. Why isn't there an audio recording program similar to GarageBand natively in Windows?
2. Why has the ability to remove applications such as IE 7 and WMP taken out of Vista? In previous versions of Windows, this was an easy task in the Control Panel, and something I'd like to see restored.
I'm sure there are more, but these are my big two.
Later.

why isn't there an audio recording program similar to garageband natively in windows?
Erm, there isn't one in OSX either, is there? I thought it was a part of i-life, which is free with new macs, but is a seperate entity to OSX?
that's like asking why don't vendors such as Dell and HP include Sonar, guitar tracks, Vegas, Cubase, ProTools, Pyramix, SADiE, Sequoia, Samplitude or Reaper with new PCs.
Well, you know what, turns out some vendors actually do.

I've been saying for awhile that Microsoft needed a digital suite to answer iLife. Granted there are some applications in Windows that does part of it, but an audio recording app would be great. And yes there is plenty of 3rd party audio recording.
However, this is something that millions of users actually use and should be available in Windows. From professional artists, to independent musicians, and school musicians of all levels, they would practially use a good audio recording application if it was included.
lotsa stated: I'd say that, for the average reader (you know, the one this article is allegedly geared towards), that IS overwhelming technical jargon.
My Comments: Are you kidding me? You can leave the browser menu running in the background, while executing these changes. Or you can print out the instructions and execute the changes.
These simple registry changes are NOTHING compared to other command line changes in various flavors of Linux, the old DOS, and Unix variants.
Also, I thought that OS-X was the more technical of the OSes. But its you and Ocean who are complaining about registry changes. I know many Windows users who are quite at east with a registry editor. I think this is what's is fundamentally wrong with the Mac experience. You're completely dependent on Apple to fix all of your problems, yet Windows users many times don't wait for Microsoft. Getting under the virtual hood is part of the Windows experience. I think its hilarious that the supposedly more advanced users are complaining over a few simplistic registry changes.
Or there's another explanation, could it be laziness?
I'll leave that for others to figure out.
Folks, computing is both an investment and a responsibility. Either you're up for the challenge or you're not.
Later.

@subzero - "However, this is something that millions of users actually use and should be available in Windows."
Do you think that maybe MS is a little gun shy about trying to bundle any more free apps in the OS? They were already and continue to be slapped around a bit for that by the DOJ and EU. I can see why they do not. I would say that it should be up to the Dells and HPs of the world to bundle these apps.
I, myself only use iPhoto and iDVD(rarely), but think that a good Windows alternative to iLife would probably sell. I would like to see Apple porting it over to a Windows application, as long as they did some quality work, unlike the port of Safari.
--tayme

I still don't think the OS should actually contain a multi-track recording app. It's an OS, not a software suite.
The amount of people who need a multi-tracker compared to the amount of people who wouldn't even know what it ws must be tiny, I reckon.

"Why does Windows Vista feel the need to tell me (via balloon window) when it has successfully done something (like install a driver)? Isn't "just working" the baseline? Bug me when something goes wrong, and leave me alone otherwise. Just work."
As I mentioned this is probably the most annoying aspect of Windows. It has been compared to an overeager Boy Scout with a lifetime supply of chocolate covered coffee beans, too eager by half.
Scenario
Avro has great idea while writing his University dissertation.
Idiot pop-up Bubble demands attention (Your wireless connection is now working)
Avro: Hold the thought
Idiot pop-up Bubble 2 demands attention (The mouse you plugged into the USB port is now working)
Avro: What was the thought?
Idiot pop-up Bubble 3 demands attention (You may be at threat as we do not detect an Anti-virus program, but then we cannot detect all Anti-virus programs and you may be running one)
Avro: The Thought is Gone!! :-((((
All in the best memory of *****Clippee.
Macs are not perfect but they tend not to get in the way of your work. Windows could learn from this.

What I Use

Like many, I was hoping to see a new Lumia flagship before the end of 2014, and while I was pleasantly surprised in some ways by both the Lumia 735 and 830, neither offers the level of performance or best-in-market camera quality I had come to expected from Microsoft/Nokia's high-end devices. So I pulled the trigger on an unlocked Windows Phone flagship that will hopefully take me through at least the first half of this year. Or until Microsoft gets off its low-end fixation and satisfies the needs of its biggest fans....More

It's been a while since the last What I Use, but there haven't been many major changes since late last year: Surface Pro 3 has become my go-to travel companion, I've added a third cellphone line for testing Windows Phone, Android and iPhone side-by-side, and have rotated through some new tablets and other devices. We've also switched from FIOS to Comcast and added to our set-top box collection....More